Rotary inlaying machine



May 10, 1932. w. J. BLENKO I ROTARY INLAYING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet R o T N E v m y 1932- w. J. BLENKO 1,857,619

ROTARY INLAYING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1929 s'sneets-sneet 2 gla May 10,1932. wfJ. BLENKO 1,857,619

ROTARY INLAYING MACHINE V Filed Jim 21, 1929 E SheetS-Sheet s \U I v INVENTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR w. J. BLENKO ROTARY INLAYING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1929 I |mmm May 10, 1 932.

May .10, 1932.

w; J. BLENKO ROTARY INLAYING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 21, 1929 INVENTOR Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES; PATENT lorries WALTER J. BLENKO, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN OR TO ARMSTRONG CORK COMPANY, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA ROTARY InLAYmq MACHINE Application filed June 21,

This invention relates to rotary inlaying machines such as used for the manufacture of inlaid linoleum and provides a flexible control for the machine whereby a wide variety of patterns can be manufactured at relatively low cost. A

A rotary inlaying machine comprises a large drum with which are associated two or more die rolls. Webs of linoleum material are fed to the die rolls and knives on the peripheries thereof cut'these webs into pattern elements and scrap. The die rolls are provided with strippers whose movement is controlled by pin rolls lying within the die rolls. One of these pin rolls, called the scrap roll, actuates such strippers as are necessary to discharge the unwanted portions of a particular web of material which has been cut up by its die roll. The remaining portions of the cut up Web form part of the linoleum pattern to be produced, and are pressed against a backing on the drum of the machine by aso-calledpattern roll which actuates the remaining strippers of the die roll.

A set of die rolls for a rotary machine may cost, with its strippers,knives, etc., as much as $80,000 or $100,000. Each die roll comprises a cylindrical shell of cast iron having its entire periphery covered by blocks of babbitt metal which are spaced apart a slight distance so that knives may be driven therebetween. These knives are arranged in clifferent ways, depending on the pattern desired, and strippers are placed in the roll between knives through openings provided therefor. These strippers have pins extending into the interior of the die roll, which pins are engaged by the pin rolls as above described. It will be seen from the foregoing that only a-relatively limited number of patterns can be made from a given set of die. rolls, for any pattern elementmust conformto the shape of'one of the babbitt blocks on the surface of the ,die rollor to the shape of a plurality thereof.

The pin rolls employed vare made up specially for each pattern and the cost of making these rolls, together with the cost of setting up the knives on the peripheries of the die rolls, is very high. If it were possi- 192e. Serial -No.'372,61 0.

ble to control the pinsor other equivalent stripper-actuating means in the various die rolls, it would'be possible to materiallyimprove the flexibility of the machine and to 7 decrease the cost of setting it up preparatory to arun. Assume, for instance, that the entire surface of the die roll were divided up by knives so as to cut 1 square blocks. If alternate strippers in each row on the 'die roll were actuated, there would result a checkerboard pattern made up of 1 squares. If

the stripper actuated means were controlla-' ble so as to actuate the strippers, say in groups'of two, there could be produced a checkerboard pattern f of 2 squares. N o harm results in making up a 2 square from four 1 squares because linoleum pattern elements are calendered onto the backing and adjacent pattern elements are firmly bonded together; The above "example is a very simple one, but will show the wide variety, of efl'ects obtainable by "control of the strippers instead of thepresent actuation thereof ypin rolls. i

is a difficult one becausea rotary machine is The problem of controlling the strippers,

essentiallya high'speed one. Only a small fraction of a second is available for actuating the stripper, rolls are particularly'desirable on this vaccount. .The pin rolls lie inside the die roll and'are gearedthereto. The inwardly'projecting stripper pin sweeps out a path of rotation in the die roll, which'path is intersected r by the path of a pin onthe pin roll; .The head of a pinon the roll engages. the headof the stripper'pin and causes it to move outwardly, the entire movement being smooth and devoid of any danger of stripper or bending the pin; I a v s It is highly important that the control of scrap be accurate, for if apiece of the cutand the present rotating pin missing the i V up web designed to be discharged as scrap is inadvertentlylaid' onto the backing, the

succeeding die roll attempts to lay a pattern element over this pie'ceof laid-on scrap mat'erial, thus seriously affecting the operation,

I provide control means for-actuating the stripper, this means preferablycomprising a pin roll having movable pins therein and control means for moving the pins. The

ins may be normally arranged so as to throw all of the material to scrap unless they are controlled. This is highly desirable as it prevents breakage of the machine in case anything goes wrong. The pins are preferably magnetically controlled, as this lends itself to the use of master patterns which may be changed as desired. It is also highly desirable. in that the available space-is very small and the electromagnets andcontrol wires therefor take up a minimum of room as compared with other available types of "control.

The pins are preferably arrangedto move radially and are biased by a spring, the pins being provided with ashoulder and there being means engaging the shoulder-so asto control thepathof:the pins; Electromagnets are preferablyemployed for moving the pins so as to cause engagementof'the shoulder by-the guide'means therefor. The guide employed is preferably-in the form of a comb made from a metal sheet with slots therein, the sheet being-of gently circular cross-section and lying around the pin roll. The pins extend through the slots, and the shoulders are formed by providing collars thereon. If the pins are extended, the-collars lie outside the metal sheet and arethus prevented from moving inwardly, while ifthe collars-lie-inside the metal sheet, thepins are held in retraeted position iand cannot move outwardly.

In order to secure the utmost flexibility, there is provided a pin roll having a sufiicient number of pins properlyspaced to engage every stripper pin in the die roll, these pins being so controlled that the desired strippers are actuated; Two. pirrrolls are provided, one for discharging scrap, and the other-for applying the pattern elements; The pins are preferably biased in both the. scrap roll and thepattern roll so that they-will tend )not to actuate thestrippers. .However, if desired, the pins may be biased so that they will normally tend to .dischargeall of the cut-upmaterial. Corresponding pins in the scrap roll 7 and the patternroll willv preferably be actuated by the same control mechanism. There will be an electromagnet for each pin and the same master :controller will be employed for both. thescrap roll and the pattern roll, it simply being necessary to spacetherespon sive elements .in the control system a distance apart corresponding to the distance between the scrap roll andthe pattern roll, and while maintaining this spacing causing relative movement between the control. elements and p the masterpattern;

The use ofpin rolls having pins for every stripper'pin and amaster control therefor is alsoof advantage in that the pattern repeat lengthlmay be materially increased. The die roll offa rotary machine as ordinarily-com structed has a circumference of 54;", but the pin rolls must be materially smaller .so as to :ferred embodiment of the invention.

tempt is made to'show the parts to actual more or less diagrammatically a present pre- No atscale,'the various elementsbeings'hown to such size aszwillbest illustrate the principle.

In the drawings, 1

Figure l is a diagrammatio view illustrating the general layout-ofarotary machine;

Figure 2 is a transverse section through a die roll and,its-associatedgparts;

- Figure 3-is a view'to enlarged scale of the scrap roll looking; in a direction opposite to that of Fig. 2;. I r

Figure 4 is a developed view, partly broken away,- showingthe comb which" guides the plus; p v

Figure'5 is an elevation of-thecomb -and themagnet bar; Figure- 6 is a view correspondingto Figure '8 but showing a'r'oll whose pins :are biased so that thestri'ppers-wil-l tend to eject allof the material from the die roll;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view correspond- 7 Referring first to Figure 1,'there is show i a rotary machine comprising a-drum 2 sup plied with a-web of backing material 3, such asburlap; Die rolls 4 arespaced around the drum 2. Each die roll lies adjacent a platen roll 5, and when a web W- of linoleum mix is fed between theserolls it iscut up into pieces bykniveslying on the-surface of the die roll 4. The webs of linoleum mix are supplied from calendars 6 and are carried to the die rolls by belts 7 There is a die roll foreach color employed in the pattern. The'various pattern elements are laid onto the backing and the linoleum thus formed passes over an inspection table 8 to a calender 9 wherethe pattern elements are calendered firmly onto the backing 3 and are bonded together, after which the material goes to the'stoves for curing. V v I The machine as thus far described is well known, as-is the mechanism for driving the Figure 2 shows the improved construction in detail. The die roll 4 comprises ashell 10 having Babbitt blocks 11 over the periphery thereof with knives 12 between the blocks. Strippers 13 lie within each spacebounded by the knives 12. Thesestrippers each consist of a top plate 14 mounted on a stripper pin 15. The pin is shouldered as indicated at 16 and is normally held in retracted position by a spring 17. The strippers are made up as individual units,,the mechanism being contained in a barrel .18 which is threaded into the shell 10. When the strippers are in position, the pins 15 normally extend inwardly of the shell, as shown in Figure 2. The action of the knives on the web W of material as it passes between the rotating die roll 4 and its platen roll 5 is shown in the upper left hand corner of'Figure 2. The knives do not cut entirely through the web, as this would result in the platen roll engaging the knives and dulling them. No matter how carefully the knives are set up, some of them will project a few thousandths of an inch beyond others, and it is therefore usual to provide a clearance 0361005 between the die roll and the platen roll. The web is therefore out nearly through and thecutting is completed by engaging the surface of the material with a stiff. brush 18 which pushes the linoleum down into the space between the knives. When the strippers are actuated the piece above the stripper is pushed outwardly and drops off, being assisted by a rotating brush 19. The scrap falls into a trough 19a having therein a conveyor, not shown, whereby the scrap is taken away. I I

The pin roll is indicated generally at 20. It comprises a body 21 having radially extending openings therein to receive pins 22. The pins are carried in barrels 18 similar to the barrels 18 and are biased outwardlyby springs 23, the outward movement being limited by nuts 24 on the pins. Short relatively heavy springs 24 lie beneath the nuts, as shown.

A comb 25 lies below the pin roll 21 "and extends substantially halfway therearound. This comb is formed from heavy metal and is secured to fixed frame members 26 and 27. As best shown in Figure 4, the comb is provided with slots having enlarged end portions 28 "and narrow body portions 29. In Figure 3 the extent of the wide and narrow portions is indicated by dotted lines.

The pins 22 are each provided with collars 30 which, when the pins are in'their nor mal outer position, lie a suflicient distance from the body 21 of the pin roll as to project well into the wide portions 28 of the slots when the pin roll is rotated. This action is clearly shown in Figure 3, and it will be seen that throughout the time the pinsare traveling within the range of the narrow slots 29,

the collars 30 are engaged by the comb 25 and cannot be moved inwardly. Aslshown in Figure 2, this causes the heads-of the pins to engage the stripper pins, thus ejecting material from the die roll. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the comb is thickened so that when a pin 22 is active the comb imparts an out- 1 The pins in the scrap roll are so positioned and are in such number that they will engage every stripper pin in the die roll unless con trolled. The control mechanism consists of a setting slide 31 mounted in the frame member 27 and having a head 32 adapted to engage the outer end of a pin 22 while it is within-the range of the wide slot 28 but before'it passes into the narrow slot 29.

There is a slide 31 for each circumferential row of pins 22 in the scrap roll. The slides 31 are normally held in retracted position by springs 33. Electromagnets 34 are provided for each slide 31', and, when a magnet is energized, the slide is moved to the left, as viewed in the drawings, so that the head 32 strikes the end of any pin 22 then inposition to be engaged. When a pinis thus engaged, it is forced inwardly against the pres.-

sure of its spring 23 and is held inwardly until the pin slides off the head 32 of the setting slide 31. .The narrowslot 29 terminates at such point that before the pin is out of engagement with the head 32, its collar 30 has been engaged by the edges ofthe narrow slot 29, thus holding the pin in retracted position duringthe entire time that it is traveling along the narrow slot. A pin thus retracted will notengage the corresponding stripper pinof the die roll and therefore will not be effective for ejecting apiece of linoleum lying over that particular stripper. 1A conduit small and therefore the setting slides 31 can i be rapidly actuated as is necessary in amachine of this character. This construction is superior to a construction wherein it is attempted to mechanically operate the strippers themselves because of the greater inertia of the strippers and of the resistance afforded by the linoleum to be ejected.

As shown in Figure 5, the magnets 34 may bearrange d instaggered relationshipaso as tobring themechanism into smallfcompass and thus accommodate a pin roll wherein the circumferential rows of pins are placed very close together.

In Figure 7 there is shown a modified comb which does not have the .cam portion formed on its outer surface. Instead of this the comb'is of uniform thickness. The arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 8 is particularly desirable if the pin'roll. is of large diameter, but where a small diameter pin roll is employed the arrangement of Figure 7 will be satisfactory.

The pattern roll is indicated generally by the referencecharacter 37. It corresponds in all particulars-to the scrap roll and requires no further description.

Figure 6 shows a modification wherein the pins are biased inwardly instead of outwardly. The rollbody is shown at 37. It is provided with collared pins 38 and these are biased inwardly by springs 39. A comb 40 of the general character as the comb 25 is provided, and if the collars ofthe pins 38 lie within this comb, the strippers are not actuated. This is the normal movement of the pins, and unless they are :moved to an abnormal position no'strippers will be actuated. The pins are urged outwardly by setting slides 41 mounted in a frame 42 which lies inside of the roll 37. Magnets 43 actuate the .setting slides, and they are returned to normal positionby springs 44. It will be seen thatthe operation of this device is exactly the opposite to that of the roll shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 8 shows a control mechanism for the magnets '34. It comprises a drum 45 mount ed on a shaft 46'which is driven from the mai itself is made of a conducting material and is'connected with an electric line wire L through a wire-5O and a collector ring 51. Bars 52 and. 58 of insulating material extend along the drum and carry brushes 54 and 55,

, respectively. The brushes 54 are for the magnets 34 of the scrap roll, and the brushes 55 are for the magnets 34 of the pattern roll. There is a brush'for each magnet, each brush being connected to its magnet by a wire 56.

. Thecircuit is completed through wires 57 leading to a bus 58 which. is connected to the line wirelf.

The brushes 54- and 55 are spaced at an angular distance corresponding to the angular spacing of the stripper actuating rolls 2-0 and 37. The paper has openings 59 punched therein so that whenthe opening lies below a brush, a circuit is completed, and the magnet is energized. A given opening 59 will first pass under'its brush 54 and energize the corresponding'magnet 34, thus throwing the stripper out of I operation and saving a piece of linoleum mix. At the time that the die roll rotates a suflicient distance to bring this piece of linoleum in suchposition that its stripper pin is ready to be engaged by a pin in the roll 37, theweb 49 is moved around with the drum-45, but the spacing of the brush 55 from the brush 54 is slightly more thanthe distance moved by the drum so that the brush 55, instead of makingcontact with the drum, is insulated therefrom bythe paper adjacent the hole 59. Since themagnet for setting the pin in the roll 37 is not actuatechthe corresponding pin inthe patternrollwill engage the stripper and cause the piece of linoleum to be laid onto the backing 3.

It will be seen that the webs 49"may be changed as desired and that the length of the web will be the pattern repeat length ora multiple thereof. This pattern repeat length may be made much greater thanthe present s andard length of 18", and it will be seen that the only thing necessary forchanging the pattern is to change webs 49. There will be a web 49 for each die roll tobe controlled.

Figure 9 shows a modified controlmechanism wherein instead of a paper web a drum 60 havingbuttons 61 thereon is employed. Instead of brushes 54 and 55, switches 54 and 55 are provided. The connections and tus illustrated in Figure 8. However, with the drum mechanism of Figure 9 higher voltages maybe employed. The drum 60 is removably mounted on a shaft 46 whereby it may be replaced when it is desired to change patterns. 1

It maybe necessary to make the pins of the scrap roll and the pattern roll from'brass or other non-magneticmaterial in order to prevent their being improperly controlled by the magnets 34.

Figure@ shows at the top thereof the cus tomary lubricating roll- 62 whichis efl'ective for moving all of the strippers so that the surfaces thereof will be engaged by a brush 63 and lubricated-with paraffin oil to prevent sticking of the linoleum thereto..

I have illustrated and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention and certain modifications thereof. It will be understood, however. that it is not limi ed to the forms shown but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a rotary inlaying machine, a die roll, a stripper therein, a stripper roll, actuating pins on the stripper roll, the pins being mov able into or out of stripper engaging position, and means for controlling the movement of the pins prior to their engagment with the stripper.

' 2. In a rotary inlaying machine, a die roll,

4. In a rotary inlaying machine, a die roll,

strippers therein, stripper-actuating means, means other than the stripper for moving the stripper-actuating means in a non-circular path, and means for changing the path.-

5. In a rotary inlaying machine, a die roll, strippers therein, stripper-actuating means comprising a supporting roll and pins movable therewith, and a cam for moving the pins.

6. In a rotary inlaying machine, a die roll, strippers therein, scrap discharge means for actuating the strippers, the scrap discharge means being movable in a path to normally actuate a stripper and cause discharge of scrap, pattern forming means for actuating a stripper, and a common means for controlling said pattern forming means.

7. In a rotary inlaying machine, a die roll, a stripper therein, a stripper roll having an actuating pin therein, means normally urging the pin outwardly, andmeans for moving the pin inwardly.

8. In a rotary inlaying machine, a die roll, strippers therein, a pin roll, a pin radially movable therein, and means for holding the pin in adjusted position during a portion of the revolution of the die roll, said portion of revolution commencing prior to the engagement of the stripper by the pin.

9. .In a rotary inlaying machine, a die roll, strippers therein, a pin roll, a pin radially movable therein, means for holding the pin in adjusted position during a part of the revolution of the die roll, and means other than the stripper for eflecting the movement of the. pin.

10. In a rotary inlaying machine, a die roll, strippers therein, a pin roll, a pin radially movable in the pin roll, the pin having a shoulder, and a guide extending around the pin roll and engaging the shoulder.

11. In a rotary inlaying machine, a die rol1,strippers therein, a pin roll, a pin radi-. ally movable in the pin roll, the pin having a shoulder, and a guide extending around the pin roll and engaging the shoulder, the guide having a cam face formed thereon. y y 12. In a rotary inlaying machine, a die roll, strippers therein, a pin roll, a pin movable therein, a collar on the pin, and a guide extending around the pin roll'and adapted to be engaged by the collar on its inner or its outer side.

16. In a rotary inlayingmachine, a: die

roll, strippers therein, scrap forming means for actuating strippers, pattern forming means for actuating. strippers, and a single control means for the scrap forming and pat-' tern forming means. I

17. In a rotary inlaying machine, a die roll, strippers therein, a plurality of stripper actuating means, pattern control means having a plurality of control members corresponding to difl'erent stripper-actuating means, and means operatively connecting the control members to the stripper-actuating means.

18. In a rotary inlaying machine, a die-Q,

roll, strippers therein, scrap discharge means V for actuating strippers, the scrap discharge means being movable in apath wherein they actuate the strippers and cause discharge of the scrap, and being also movable in another path wherein they leave the strippers unaffected, and means for directing the scrap discharge means into one or the other of said paths. i 19. In a*-rotary inlaying machine, a dieroll, strippers therein, scrap discharge means for actuating strippers, the scrap discharge means being movable in a path wherein they actuate the strippers and cause discharge of the scrap, and being also movable in another path wherein they leave the strippers unaffected, means for directing the scrap discharge means into one or theother of said paths, and cam means lying in the first-mentioned path for effecting movement of the scrapdischarge means. 7

In testimony whereof I have d hereunto set my han WALTER J. BLENKO. 

